Andrew Triggs departs with forearm injury in A's win over Blue Jays

TORONTO — Andrew Triggs’ early departure for the game marred what was a hit parade for the A’s.

The right-hander had just gone 2-0 to Justin Smoak with a runner on with one out in the third inning when Jonathan Lucroy quickly ran out for a mound visit. Manager Bob Melvin and trainer Nick Paparesta came out to the mound shortly after, and after a quick consultation, Triggs was pulled from the game after 42 pitches to end his outing by allowing one run on one hit with two walks and a strikeout over just 2 1/3 innings in a 10-5 A’s victory.

Triggs was shaking his forearm as he walked back to the dugout and into the clubhouse. After the game, Triggs revealed he felt a tingling and shooting sensation from his right thumb to the middle finger. The feeling began after throwing a changeup to retire Yangervis Solarte on a groundout to end the first inning and was on and off in the second inning. After the sensation returned more frequently in the third, Triggs said he called on Lucroy and the training staff to let them know something was wrong.

“It didn’t concern me all that much and then it was more frequent in the third when I walked Donaldson and then got down 2-0 to Smoak,” Triggs said. “That was enough for me to bring it to their attention. You don’t want to come before you’ve given everything you’ve got, but that was enough for me to realize I needed to say something.”

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Triggs entered the night 3-1 with a 5.31 ERA. He had tied a season-high six runs allowed in his previous start against the Yankees this past Saturday. Triggs underwent Tommy John surgery in his senior year of high school 11 years ago, and had not had any serious arm injuries recently.

Though tingling sensations in the fingers are a common symptom of UCL injuries, which lead to Tommy John surgery, Triggs said his past experience with that type of injury gives him hope that what he was feeling is not UCL-related.

Manager Bob Melvin said Triggs will head to Oakland for an MRI tomorrow, and the club will wait to hear back before deciding on making a roster move. With starters Jharel Cotton and Paul Blackburn already on the disabled list, along with relievers Ryan Buchter and Liam Hendriks, the A’s pitching depth is starting to slim down. A long-term injury for Triggs would be a tough blow.

Santiago Casilla came on in relief of Triggs and got Smoak and Yangervis Solarte to fly out and end the third. Though the Blue Jays (22-22) tacked on three runs against Casilla, his ability to go two innings in order to help Melvin stay away from certain members of the bullpen he wanted to give a night off left the manager pleased.

“Casilla was great. He’s not used to doing that,” Melvin said. “He’s probably never been called on at that time in his whole career. He gave up a couple of run, but two-plus is just not stuff he’s ever done for us and he continues to pitch well for us. He’s really turned himself into quite a weapon.”

Casilla, along with Yusmeiro Petit, Ryan Dull, and Lou Trivino combined for 6 2/3 innings. While four runs were surrendered, they got some help from an explosion of runs from the A’s (22-22) offense.

When Khris Davis, Matt Olson, and Matt Chapman are all clicking, it can be a downright frightening scenario for opposing pitchers. That was the case on Thursday.

The A’s recorded 14 hits on the night as Davis, Olson, and Chapman all homered. The trio combined to go 8 for 12 with seven RBIs and two walks.

“When we’re swinging pretty good and just getting some contributions from everybody, it can turn into ten runs like it did tonight,” Melvin said.

Davis raised his average from .214 to .233 in one day by going 4 for 4 as he also singled three times. He was hit by a pitch in the sixth, reaching base five times in a game for the second time in his career.

“Usually if he touches the ball three times in a game there’s a couple of homers,” Melvin said. “Power hitters usually aren’t mixing some singles. His batting practice was really good and shooting some balls in the hole. He knows how to work on himself when maybe he’s swinging and missing too much.”

It was Chapman’s third multi-hit game in the past four days, tying a career-high three hits on the night.